Loose watercolor flower cards – Honeybee + Ellen Hutson

I had a big stack of watercolor cards and postcards staring at me – I stamped up some sentiments from this beautiful new set from Ellen Hutson and Honey Bee – limited release, so pick it up quick! – and just started going to town with flowers! If you’ve taken the Fresh Florals Class, it’s some encouragement to you to get loose and wild with your painting! Note that this stamp set works so well with some other Honey Bee stamp sets that Ellen bundled them up at a discount!!! Watch the video below or click HERE to see it in HD on YouTube.

So quick…so pretty!

Send some sunshine to the Gulf – and help me fundraise!

I had this video made before the hurricane….but I’m going to send ALL 25 of the cards I made out of these cards and postcards to first responders in the Gulf. Sunshine is exactly what’s needed, right!?

I’ve put together some addresses that you can send cards to, as well as organizationss we can all donate to. For every comment on this post by Friday Sept 1st, I’m donating $5 – so be sure to leave a comment telling me how many cards YOU commit to send out in the next 10 days. Yes, 10 days is my deadline, or you know you won’t get around to doing it!!

For the addresses and orgs to donate to, click HERE or on the image below! After leaving a comment, that is!

Facebook Live videos mentioned in today’s video:

Throughout July (World Watercolor Month), I did a bunch of Facebook Live videos – so for those who love realtime watercolor – have at it! Click on each photo to be taken to that video on Facebook.

Supplies

Below are links to the supplies I’ve used for today’s project. Compensated affiliate links may used, which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support toward the costs of running this blog! Read more.

Llama

This sweet llama from Flora and Fauna just cried out for a scene – some sky, some mountains, and a little grass. Just enough to make it interesting! Check out the video to see how I watercolored this one! Watch the video below or click HERE to see it in HD on YouTube.

Supplies

Below are links to the supplies I’ve used for today’s project. Compensated affiliate links may used, which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support toward the costs of running this blog! Read more.

Prehistoric Watercolor

Whether or not you make school-themed cards – I hope this one is worth a watch! I’ve had several folks ask about how to make a background that doesn’t fight with the foreground. Well, not asked in those words, but it’s the gist! So today, I’m addressing that. Watch the video below or click HERE to see it in HD on YouTube.

Supplies

Below are links to the supplies I’ve used for today’s project. Compensated affiliate links may used, which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support toward the costs of running this blog! Read more.

Watercolor Sketchbook Review and Advice

Lots of folks who’ve seen me posting pics from my sketchbooks on Instagram have been asking for advice on sketchbooks. Which one to get? What features should you look for? What do you learn from using one? Well, I’ve reviewed a ton – I’m not even going to show a bunch of the duds! But….I can say that I started off looking for books that will allow me to make really awesome paintings on awesome paper. But I left with a new understanding: using a sketchbook has a new purpose for me…to loosen me up. If I’m using an el-cheapo sketchbook and doing a REALLY quick sketch, I’m loose and free….and I want to practice that until it becomes my natural style of painting. For now, that’s not the case….but there’s hope, right?

See each sketchbook from the video in photos below, with links for ones I could find; a few I couldn’t locate online but check your local art store if you want to try that one out. Watch the video below or click HERE to see it in HD on YouTube.

My advice

…is to get 2 sketchbooks: one with nicer watercolor paper for days you feel like practicing technique. And then a mixed media or multimedia book and MAKE YOURSELF DRAW AND PAINT EVERY DAY. Yes I used all caps. Because honestly, that’s what you have to do to improve! Okay, off my high horse. On to the sketchbooks! Links may be affiliate links; if you use these I may receive a percentage at no extra cost to you. Read more.

NOTE: sale on all watercolor classes on my teaching site lasts through this month. Use coupon code wwcm for 15% off on watercolor courses!

Prehistoric Watercolor

Recently I shared a card on Instagram (scroll down) that engendered the question – how’d you do dat? (lol) – well, let’s take a look at it in watercolor, okay? Watch the video below or click HERE to see it in HD on YouTube.

Here’s the inspiration – stamp set is Prehistoric by Neat and Tangled:

Winner!

Congrats to the winner of the GC from the Altenew Bloghop last week: bonnielovespurses! I’ve emailed her with info to claim her prize.

Reminder, winner from the YT giveaway will be selected after 76k is reached. (Yes, the party started early, yeah baby!)

Supplies

Below are links to the supplies I’ve used for today’s project. Compensated affiliate links may used, which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support toward the costs of running this blog! Read more.

If you’ve arrived from Lydia Evans’ blog, you’re on the right track here on the Altenew bloghop! See details including amazing giveaways later in this post.

Altenew Bloghop: Watercolor Parrot Paradise

Welcome to my stop on the hop! I decided to take a vacation in paradise on a card, since I don’t have a tropical vacation on my calendar….and took my watercolors with me! I figured out how to paint an easy background on a card like this – you’ll facepalm when you realize how simple it is to do this on cards! Watch the video below or click HERE to see it in HD on YouTube.

The Parrot Paradise stamp set can be used in tons of other ways too – check out all the shapes of the leaves that can layer beautifully, too:

The ease of painting right over the image really makes painting a card front like this easy!

And the parrot can also be used with your own painting in the background…this video was privately shared with my patrons earlier this week:

And now….those bloghop details!

Altenew Stamp/Die/Ink Release Blog Hop + Giveaway

Giveaway on Altenew blogs: Fie $50 gift certificates! Leave a comment on the AltenewCard Blog or/andScrapbook Blog by Thursday, July 27th at 11:59 pm EDT for a chance to win.

Supplies

Below are links to the supplies I’ve used for today’s project. Compensated affiliate links may used, which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support toward the costs of running this blog! Read more.